Chic Studs

Monogram Earrings Tiffany Blue: $8.95 etsy.com

Pyramid Stud Earring: $24.00 vincecamuto.com

Oversized Pearl Studs: $21.00 shopbop.com

Blu Bijoux Gold & Blue Enamel Anchor Earrings: $16.00 maxandchloe.com

Twist & Shout Stud Earrings: $48.00 bloomingdales.com

{Splurge} Bow Earrings: $150.00 tiffany.com

{Steal} Unwritten Bow Stud Earrings: $19.12 (originally $45.00)

Small Square Stud Earring: $38.00 piperlime.com

Pave Stud Earrings (White, Topaz, & Turquoise): $19.90 each (currently buy 1 get 1 50% off) express.com

Studs are super popular right now, & lately I've been obsessed with them.  I've always loved big earrings, but studs are so comfortable, easy, & chic, that I've been loving them more then my chandelier's.  The fun thing about studs is that there are so many cute styles out there, which give you the opportunity to constantly change up your look.  Above I put together a collage of some of my favorite looks.  The Pave Stud Earrings are beyond chic & look gorgeous dressed up or down, they are so great that I've given them as gifts to a bunch of my friends.  The monogram & pearl styles are very classy & preppy, every girl should own a pair of pearl earrings (real, fake or both, honestly the more the better).  The gold pyramids are very on trend at the moment & edgy.  A nautical style is perfect for summer time, but can be worn all year round, I have a friend that loves anchors so much she has like 10 different pairs.  The small pink square earrings, the roses, & the bows are all super feminine & will add a girly touch to any outfit.  Lastly, the little Kate Spade pretzels are beyond adorable & a little quirky, making them fun & unexpected!  Each of these stud 'categories' are great ones to base your stud collection off of.  They also make for great gifts (Christmas ideas!), everyone loves getting jewelry & studs are universally flattering!

So which of these earrings are your favorite?

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Different Levels of Moisture

Last week's cold snap made my skin freak out a little bit.  By freak out I mean get instantly crazy dry, which lead me to slather lotion all over my body multiple times a day to soothe the dryness.  The quick temperature change & skin issues that followed got me thinking about the different types of moisturizers I use.  I then realized that the moisturizers I use fall into 2 categories: light & intense.  I use the light lotions when I am looking to 'upkeep' the moisture levels in my skin, these work amazing for hot weather because they absorb quickly.  I use the light moisturizers the most, but when my skin begins to get dry or needs some extra moisture I use my intense moisturizers.  Below are my absolute favorite's that fall into both categories.

Face: CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion  / Coconut Oil Eyes: Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector / Mario Badescu Dermonectin Eye Cream Lips: Kiss My Face Organic Strawberry Lip Balm / Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy Body: St. Ives Naturally Smooth Fruit AHA Complex Body Lotion / True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Hands: EOS Cucumber Hand Lotion / AVON Care Silicone Glove Protective Hand Cream Feet: True Blue Spa Shea It Isn't So / True Blue Spa Heel of Approval 
Face The CeraVe lotion has been my go to nighttime face cream for a while now.  It absorbs super quickly, moisturizes efficiently, & does not clog my pores.  My Dad & I have the exact same skin & he had used it for years when he told me to give it a try.  I've been hooked ever since, & love it so much that I got my sister addicted to it too.  Coconut oil is my favorite to moisturize my face when it starts to feel dry.  I typically get that dry feeling when it gets cold out, the winter winds really take a toll on my skin & this helps to repair it.  Coconut oil is light & never clogs my pores, I actually find that if I have any pimples that it helps to heal them.  Aside from using it when my face gets extra dry I try to use it every one or two weeks just to give my skin a little extra TLC.
Eyes I have dark circles under my eyes that make me super self conscious, so last year I started using Clinique's Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector.  While I haven't seen any drastic change (I wasn't really expecting to though), I feel as though it did brighten my under eye area.  My favorite part of it is the applicator, it cools & massages while you apply the cream.  I just started using the Mario Badescu Deromnectin Eye Cream & am loving it.  It is super moisturizing & saved the skin around my eyes last week when they all of a sudden decided to become crazy dry.
Lips My lips are always pretty dry, but in the winter any sign of moisture really disappears so I always have my Kiss My Face lip balm with me.  It keeps my lips moist during the day & it smells so amazing (I love the Strawberry & the Pineapple Coconut flavors).  Every night, no matter the season, I have to use the Neosporin nighttime lip balm or my will lips crack & bleed.  Even with the day lip balm I need something more intense for night & I haven't found another lip balm that heals my lips as well as this one does.
Body You can read here, why I love this light moisturizer that is packed with AHAs.  I use the True Blue Spa one when I want a little extra moisture, which is mostly in the winter, but try to use it occasionally for 'upkeep' throughout the whole year.  It's such a thick cream that really smooths your skin & it smells like coconut, which I'm all for.
Hands This is another body part that gets so dry during the winter time.  My best remedy for dry hands is lots of lotion, & always wearing gloves when you go outside, it will save your hands.  I like the EOS lotion for during the day.  For the daytime I have to have something that is light & absorbs quickly so I don't feel like my hands are sticky, this does all of that plus adds some nice moisture & smells good too (bonus: it's gluten free!).  Avon's Silicone Glove is a tried & true favorite that my mom introduced me to years ago.  I like to put it on before bed so all of the benefits can sink in.  The silicone in the lotion helps to really lock in the moisture & protect your hands.
Feet I hate dry feet, they are just so icky.  Therefore I am always applying moisturizer to my feet.  Realistically there aren't any 'light' lotions for the feet, as the skin on our feet is thick so it needs something that can penetrate it.  However the True Blue Spa Shea It Isn't So is a little less intense then the other cream.  Is is packed with shea butter that will help to moisturize your feet.  You can read here why I love the True Blue Spa Heel of Approval lotion & why it will make your feet very soft & smooth. 
These are each of the moisturizers I use to keep my skin in tip top shape, & to avoid any of the consequences that dry skin bears.  I really recommend looking into any of these as they have worked wonders for my skin.  
Do you have different moisturizers you use for when your skin begins to get dry?  If so share below I always love recommendations!

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ΑΓΔ Initiation Weekend

As I mentioned on Friday this weekend was my sorority's initiation.  My school does not allow freshmen to rush until second semester so our spring pledge class will be much bigger then our fall one.  Yesterday we initiated 6 new members.  We had events everyday this week leading up to Sunday, so it was exciting for it to finally be the big day.  It was so great to watch them learn more about Alpha Gam & for them to become full members.  There is a gorgeous old mansion on campus, which is where initiation took place.  I have been dying to get in there to look around since I was a freshman & I was thrilled to actually get to do it.  Rumor has it that the building is haunted, which only made it more alluring to me.  I realized as I'm writing this that I was a blogger fail because I did not take any pictures of how pretty it was inside.  I did steal this picture off of my school's website though.

The building has some pretty cool history, for anyone that's interested it can be found here.  The best part is that it was the perfect setting to take some outdoor pictures with all the girls once initiation was done.

I also had a get a picture with my little,  who is the best little ever!

I'm obsessed with the dress I wore.  I got it at El-Quetzal, which is a cute little boutique near school.  I can't wait to pair it with different accessories, I'm think a tan belt & ballet flats, among many other options.  I wore the nude heels that I showed in this post.  We're not allowed to wear any jewelry to the ceremony except our badges, & it's so funny how weird I felt not wearing earrings.  At this point putting them on is a part of my getting ready routine, so much so that I don't even think about putting them on!
So other then sorority activities this weekend I tried to keep it low key.  There was so much going on with initiation stuff & I had a lot of homework so I didn't want to exhaust myself.  I just relaxed Friday night because Saturday we had a long event to attend.  Saturday night I did a movie & wine with one of my sorority sisters, we watched "21 & Over", which was hysterical.  If you liked "The Hangover" I highly recommend this movie, we laughed so hard through the whole thing.  I mixed in a lot of homework with everything else & even did a group project Sunday morning before initiation (I was not a fan of getting up at 9:00 on Sunday [insert sad face]).  
Well that's what I did this weekend, what did you do?

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My First Five on Friday

I bet you can't say the post title 3 times fast!  Well, I'm happy that we've finally made it to Friday, even though I have a jam packed weekend.  Since I really like lists, I'm excited to do my first Five on Friday!

1. I kind of got in the spirit of dressy & casual looks with yesterday's post.  So my dressy & casual feeling is going to translate into my favorite celebrity looks of the week.  There were so many really pretty looks this week & celebs really brought there A-game!  Here are my favorites:

Pictures from people.com
-Jessica Alba in Reem Acra at Baby2Baby Gala in Culver City, CA. I am obsessed with this gown, it is so gorgeous from its silhouette to its color. Jessica is just perfection in it. -Elizabeth Banks in Elie Saab at the premiere of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" in Berlin. This gown is liquid silver.  Its beautiful craftsmanship & Elizabeth's styling make for a total knockout of a look.

Pictures from people.com
-Camila McCounaughey at the GQ Man of the Year Party in Los Angeles. The nude hue of this dress is so chic & goes so well with Camila's skin tone.  The wrap style is a classic, but the bold shoulders make it unique. -Ashlee Simpson at BandFuse: Rock Legends video game launch in West Hollywood. Ashley is getting in on the leather trend with this maroon frock.  The dress's shape & Ashlee's simplistic styling make for an enviable outfit.
2. On Tuesday I mentioned that coconut oil was one of my "Must Haves of the Moment".

Well I found another reason to love it even more: you can use coconut oil as a face wash.  Since the temperatures dropped my skin started to get really dry & I was looking for a more gentle way to wash my face with something I already had.  I stumbled across a blog with a post on how to wash your face with coconut oil & had to try it.  I've done it two nights in a row & so far it's all good, but I am going to do a post about it in the next few weeks to share how to do it & what my results are!
3. This weekend is initiation for our pledges & I am so excited for them!  This is such an amazing experience & I cannot wait to watch them see what goes on.  I have such great memories from my initiation.  Here is a picture from it:

I have made so many amazing friends through this experience & I hope that our newest members love Alpha Gam as much as I do.  I'm pumped for this whole weekend & cannot wait for them to be full members!
4. Since I have initiation on the mind & we have to wear nude shoes I thought I would share some pretty options I found that would be perfect to wear this weekend.

Night Out Pump / Ankle Strap Shopping Day Patent Leather / Leather Brunch Pump / Ankle Strap
I've got you covered for any occasion this weekend!  Bonus: nude shoes go with just about everything!
5.

Last I bring you some music to start your weekend off right.  I'm not Miley's biggest fan, but I cannot get this song out of my head!
What are your Five on Friday for this week?

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Thanksgiving Countdown

We are t-minus two weeks away from my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving!  Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember.  I think that it is such an amazing holiday that often gets overlooked.  People go straight from Halloween to Christmas & usually entirely forget Thanksgiving.  Sadly even when people do remember it, they typically just talk about the food.  All of this has always bummed me out because I feel like people forget about what Thanksgiving is actually about.  Thanksgiving is a great time to come together with friends & family to celebrate what we are thankful for in our lives.  My family does a pretty relaxed day, which I love.  My mom cooks, I bake, & then whoever wants to come is more then welcome to.  There's no fuss, stress, or pressure, & it is a really fun day.  Here are some pictures from last year's celebration.

(The food is a yummy bonus!)

So now that you've heard my rant about Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to share some outfit ideas for the big day. I'm doing this early because I figured it would give everyone some ideas (including myself)!

Dressy

Dress / Shoes / Earrings

Casual

Sweater / Jeans / Boots / Earrings

Whether you're going dressy or causal I have options for both.  The dressy look is perfect for those of you hitting a party, restaurant, or anywhere else you would need to be dressed up.  I am in love with this dress, it's such a pretty piece.  I feel like its tan shade is very Thanksgiving & the silver in the arm pattern adds a little something extra.  The casual look is perfect for a more low key environment, watching football before dinner anyone?  This sweater looks so cozy & the elbow patches are a chic touch.  Tailored skinny jeans & riding boots finish off a perfect outfit to spend the day in. 
I hope everyone is looking forward to Thanksgiving as much as I am.  I know sometimes the holidays can be a stressful time, but I hope everyone can enjoy the day.  Now that I've told you why I love this holiday & shown you my fashion take on it, look for my post about what I am thankful for this year, coming up soon!
What are you doing for Thanksgiving?  Do you already have an outfit ready?

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P.S. Check out Meg's post about her cool plans for Thanksgiving here!

Lusting After: Suede Booties

Steal: Pink & Pepper / Splurge: Joie

Top: American Eagle Outfitters / Vince Camuto

Middle: Jessica Simpson / Pull&Bear

Bottom: Steve Madden / Urban Outfitters

I've been seriously lusting after suede booties for a few falls now, & I think I'm going to finally get a pair.  They're are so chic & versatile, which makes them look great with so many different things.  They are a celeb staple & there's no wondering why.

Rachel Bilson, Katie Holmes, Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, & Kate Bosworth among others have been seen rocking the footwear all year round.  Although starlets have worn them through all the seasons I favor them in the colder months.  I feel like they look particularly good with jeans or leggings & a big cozy sweater &/or scarf, it's an outfit that is perfect for a chilly fall day.  Miranda Kerr shows that you can even wear them with a skirt or dress, I recommend adding tights for a stylish way to keep warm though.  I've picked a bunch of cute options from different brands & in a variety of price points for you to check out.  With so many outfit possibilities I'm trying to decide which ones I want!

What pair is your favorite?

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Must Haves of the Moment

1. Wegmans Gluten Free Penne Rigate I've been all about pasta lately & Wegmans makes the best gluten free one out there.  See one of my favorite  pasta recipes here. 2. Aerie Leggings Leggings are perfect for this time of year, they look amazing when layered.  I love to pair mine with a slouchy sweater & boots for a chic & comfy look. 3. DV by Dolce Vita Briar My sorority is gearing up for initiation & formal recruitment, & nude heels are a must have for both.  This is one of my favorite pairs of shoes & they have been getting a lot of mileage lately!  The best part about these babies is that they are actually comfortable.  [Sadly, Dolce Vita does not make this exact color anymore, but the link leads to other available colors.] 4. Proactiv Renewing Cleanser & Revitalizing Toner I've used Proactiv for years, I do get away from it sometimes, but always seem to come back to it.  I usually just use the Cleanser & Toner & then put on a normal moisturizer because I find the lotion that comes with it to be too drying for my skin.  However, when I am having a breakout I will switch out my moisturizer for the Proactiv Lotion.  Their products work great to keep my skin clear! 5. Coconut Oil With the cooler temperatures coming Coconut Oil is a great way to combat the moisture sucking winds that winter brings, apply it to hair & skin to keep hydrated.  [Read here to learn all about natural oils.] 6. Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette Spray This has been my go to scent for quite a while.  I have a hard time with a lot of perfumes because they bother my allergies, but this one never has.  It smells like cotton candy & cookies, which I love, & every time I wear it I get so many compliments!  I do have other scents that I rotate it with, but lately this is all I've been wearing. 7. Stone Dome Stud Earrings I've been on a stud kick for a few months, & I picked these up at Nordstrom not too long ago.  They are simple & look so pretty that I find myself throwing them on with everything. 8. L'Oreal Paris EverCreme Nourishing Conditioner I stopped using sulfates in my hair a few months ago & am loving L'Oreal's sulfate free line.  After washing my hair with this, I use their EverCreme conditioner to add some serious moisture to my hair without making it greasy.
Well these are my "Must Haves of the Moment", what are some of yours?

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Sunshine

I was lucky enough to be nominated for a Sunshine Award by both Areeba from I Have A Messy Bun & Tiffany from d'Asti at Tiffany's.  You are supposed to nominate a blog that brings sunshine into your day & I feel so special to be chosen by these two lovely ladies!  Here are the rules for the Sunshine Award:

1. Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you for the award.

2. Share eleven random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the eleven questions set by the blogger that nominated you.

4. Post eleven questions for the bloggers you nominate.

5. List & contact the bloggers you've nominated. 

#2

11 Random Facts About Me

1. Family is very important to me & I love hanging out with my parents & sister.

2. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

3. Being a real adult scares the hell out of me.

4. I really love a deal, I'm that person that always falls for the buy one, get one 50% off or the like.

5. I really want to learn to do a fishtail braid, no matter how hard I try I always fail at it.

6. I have a major sweet tooth, give me a cupcake over potato chips any day.

7. I really enjoy having my own space.

8. I love to take really long naps in the middle of the day, they are just so productive.

9. I am super sarcastic.

10. I have never been out of the country.

11. I have to take off my makeup before I go to bed or my eyes get really really itchy.

#3

Areeba's questions:

1. If you win a lottery, what's the first thing you're going to buy?

I honestly have no idea what I would purchase, but I do know whatever it would be would be for my parents.  They both have always worked so hard & have been great parents, & I owe everything to them so I would love to be able to give them something to show my gratitude.

2. What is the color you hate most?

I honestly don't really hate any color, I'm not really a fan of bright orange though.

3. If you could become best friend with one celebrity ,who it could be?

There are so many I would love to befriend, but I would want to be BFFs with Blake Lively.  She loves to bake & cook, has in incredible sense of style, & always has the most gorgeous hair.  I would want to bake & cook with her, borrow her clothes, & have her do my hair!  

4. What's your biggest shopping pet peeve?

I'm weird when I go shopping, my favorite shopping partner is my mom because she is always honest.  My pet peeves though are not being acknowledged when you enter a store or having the sales associates like hover over you.  I like to be greeted when I walk in & offered help, but then be left alone to do my own thing, like I said I'm weird.

5. One thing that you love most about yourself.

Hmm I guess it would be that I'm not judgmental.

6. What was the first thing you read today? 

Emails, I always check them when I'm laying in bed trying to get up

7. Have you ever played a prank on someone? What was it?

I like to play little pranks on people, jumping out at my sister, hiding my dad's keys, stuff like that.  It's usually on family & I just like to play with them when they're not really paying attention, nothing big.

8. What's your favorite makeup product right now?

Mascara, it's always my favorite because I have super light eyelashes!

9. Where do you see yourself after 5 years?

I honestly have no clue, I have to decide what I want to be when I grow up first & I'll get back to you.

10. What's the song you can listen 2k times?

"Crazy" by Britney Spears, she is the most amazing signer ever.

11. Who is your favorite superhero?

I'll go with Superman, I feel like he's pretty classic.

Tiffany's questions:

1. What is your favorite thing about autumn?

Everything!  It is my favorite season ever!

2. What will you be doing for Thanksgiving this year?

Other then going home I'm not sure yet.

3. Talk about one of your favorite memories.

My mom, sister, & I took a girls trip to Florida last May.  It was an amazing trip & I have so many great memories from it.

4. Who is the most influential person in your life?

Hands down my mom, she is the most amazing, strongest, smartest, caring person I know.

5. If you had to be an animal for a day, what animal would you be?

A dog, most specifically my dog because she is a diva.

6. What would you do if there was nothing to hold you back from doing it?

I would want my own brand: clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, home goods, etcetera.  I think that would be so cool.

7. What is one accomplishment that you're very proud of?

Getting into my number one college.

8. What is your favorite book?

"A Walk to Remember", the novel & the movies are both classics.

9. If you could meet one celebrity today, who would you meet?

[See my answer to Areeba's celeb BFF question!]

10. What is one movie character you would like to be for a day?

Cherr from "Clueless", duhh.

11. What is your favorite thing about your blog?

I love getting my thoughts out & connecting with other people.

#4

My questions:

1. What celebrity would play you in a movie about your life?

2. What's the background on your phone right now?

3. What is your favorite blog post you've ever done?

4. What's the most creative thing you have ever done?

5. What was your dream job when you were a kid?

6. If calories (or any other diet/health concerns) didn't count for the day what would you eat?

7. What is your favorite season & why?

8. What are you majoring in/did you major in in college?

9. What is your favorite dessert?

10. Where is your favorite place to shop?

11. Is there anything that you've mastered in the kitchen?  What is it?

#5

I nominate:

Love, Lipstick, & Pearls

Little Baby Garvin

Two Thirds Hazel

Bailey Dailies 

Mascara & Maltesers

But First, Coffee

Chasing Elephants 

The Other Juliette

Bows & Sequins

The Fairy Princess Diaries

I Wore Yoga Pants to Work

Each of the blogs I've nominated bring sunshine into my life in their own way.  I always look forward to reading each of them because they are all so great.  Thanks guys!  

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